How to boot and install Ubuntu 24.04 Noble Nimbat or other Linux versions from a USB stick on a Microsoft Surface Laptop.
Before Proceeding
- Ensure you have backup copies of your critical data.
- Ensure you have access to your Windows Bitlocker Encryption key. Click here if you have a Microsoft account https://aka.ms/myrecoverykey
Issue: Surface laptop will not boot from a Linux boot USB Drive. The UEFI Bios is set to only trust Certificate Keyset from Microsoft Windows.
In this case Ubuntu 24 formatted to a 32gb thumb drive using Rufus. I tried Etcher as Ubuntu advised, but after three tries it always ended telling me I need to format my drive after the ~15min process completed – Rufus just straight up worked on first try.
Solution: Change your Surface laptops Secure Boot Certificate Keyset in the UEFI BIOS:
- Press and hold Volume Up key, press the power key while continuing to hold Volume Up
- Tap the Security section
- Under Secure Boot tap Change Configuration
- Change the Secure Boot Certificate Keyset to: Microsoft & 3rd party CA
- Tap OK
- Confirm Secure Boot is Enabled with Microsoft & 3rd party CA configuration
- Tap Exit
- Tap restart now – while holding the Volume Down Key
- Continue to Hold Volume Down key until you see the GNU Grub screen
- Choose to install, or Run Ubuntu from the USB drive (chose to run so you can checkout Ubuntu before comitting
- If you choose run: Ubuntu loads and launches the Install screen
- Click the X at top right of install Window to close
- Check out Ubuntu!
Surface – Secure Boot
Surface – Secure Boot 3rd Party CA.
Surface – Secure Boot Restart
Ubuntu – Noble Nimbat